Messi on song as Barcelona move back nine points clear

Lionel Messi marked his 400th LaLiga appearance with an early goal as leaders Barcelona beat Levante 3-0 at the Nou Camp to restore their nine-point advantage.

Philippe Coutinho has headed to Catalonia to complete the formalities of his £142million transfer from Liverpool, but it remained business as usual for Ernesto Valverde’s men on Sunday afternoon as Messi opened the scoring after 12 minutes, drilling an angled effort in off the post.

In-form Luis Suarez, who himself left Anfield for the Nou Camp during the summer of 2014, added a second before the break and Paulinho tapped in a late third as the Blaugrana consolidated first place ahead of Atletico Madrid.

Man of the match – Lionel Messi

Levante coach Juan Muniz had challenge his players to neutralise the threat of Lionel Messi to give themselves hope of a positive trip to the Nou Camp, but like so many before, it proved Mission: Impossible.

The Argentine playmaker was, as usual, at the centre of all of Barcelona’s positive play – before and after he had broken the deadlock with an impressive effort on 12 minutes which flew in off the post.

Just for good measure, it was his low cross which set up Paulinho for a late tap-in to complete the route.